BOLTON'S new athletics track has been hailed a success by coaches of some of the region's top athletes.

The synthetic track at Bolton Arena was only officially unveiled a few weeks ago but it is quickly gaining a reputation as a first class facility.

Scottish 10,000m champion Neil Wilkinson and top five British sprinter Amy Spencer have been switched to the Arena track by their coaches who are greatly impressed with the facility.

And a number of up and coming stars are also using the all weather surface to develop their talents.

The six-lane track is a massive boost to athletics in the town and particularly to Horwich RMI Harriers. They spent their 77-year existence without a home of their own until they were handed the track.

They recently christened it with its first athletics meeting but it is the quality of athlete using it for training which suggests Bolton has a first class facility on their hands.

Wilkinson's coach Norman Matthews says both he and his athlete are delighted with the track although he adds the facilities could still be improved with more finance ploughed into it.

He said: "We are very pleased with the facilities. The track is bouncy and fine. Sprinters know what is a good track and the surface is definitely good."

Norman, who also coaches a number of international juniors on the Horwich track, added: "The track has been great for the camaraderie and team spirit with the club.

"The changing facilities are brilliant. We have a terrific facility and the athletes are thrilled to bits with it.

"The position of the track is also a big plus point for athletes in that it is just off the motorway which is very handy.

"Also the drainage looks to be superb. One night after it had been raining heavily all day we went along for training thinking it would be too wet and the track was as dry as a bone.

"All these factors make it a terrific facility for athletes and although we've already got a lot of very good athletes training here I'm sure that over time we will get even more quality athletes using it."

There is room for improvement, however, and Norman believes the facility could be taken up to another level with further modest investment.

"It is very close to being a top class facility but for that to happen it would need some form of covered area for the athletes and their gear and the officials. At the moment it is exposed so people and their things get wet when it rains."

Another athlete who is thrilled with the track is Bolton sprinter Amy Spencer who, although she is just 15 years old, is already in the top five senior sprinters in the country.

The Great Britain Junior international's times of 11.66 for 100m and 23.30 for 200m put her in the top handful of British women over the shorter distance and in the top two over 200m - and she is not 16 until next month.

Living in Blackrod the building of a track at Horwich is convenient for her and her father and coach Graham. Furthermore, they believe the quality of the track will help Amy avoid injuries.

Not that the British number one junior gets too much time to use the track. During the summer she has flown off to Hungary - where she won silver in the World Junior Championships - Italy and Australia competing. But when she is home she uses the track at Horwich to develop her talent.

Dad Graham says: "It is very convenient for us and it is an excellent surface. It absorbs the shocks which is important when you are trying to avoid injuries.

"Amy likes the track although it is exposed so if the weather is off it can be a bit awkward to train as well as you would want. There is a good atmosphere there with the Horwich Harriers who are very friendly and helpful to us and others to train there."